TNA refutes PA MP's charge on Buddhist shrines

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 February 2003, 16:58 GMT]The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian from Trincomalee Mr.K.Thurairetnasingham participating in the debate on the no confidence motion against the Defence
Minister Tuesday Tuesday refuted charges made by a Peoples Alliance (PA) parliamentarian Mr.M.K.A.de.S Gunawardene that Hindu temples have been constructed after destroying Buddhist shrines in the eastern province, parliamentary sources said.

TNA national list MP added that Trincomalee PA parliamentarian has misled the members of the house and people of the country by spreading falsehoods that Tamils are destroying Buddhist shrines in northeast province.

"I was born in the Muttur area in the Trincomalee district. Not a single brick from Buddhist shrines in my district has been removed by any resident Tamil. Tamil culture admonishes that respect is given to all religious faiths. Buddhist shrines in Trincomalee district are safe.

"However, due to protests from a Buddhist monk, the government authorities have stopped the
restoration of the historic Pilliayar temple at Kanniya, a predominantly Tamil village in Trincomalee district. A new
Buddhist shrine in Vilankulam is being constructed in a Tamil village ignoring protests by Tamils to the government authorities," said Mr.Thurairatnesingham.

Responsible parliamentarians should not make unfounded allegation to create disharmony among people living in the Trincomalee district, Mr.Thurairatnesingham said.

"The government has not closed down any camps of the Sri Lanka Army (SLN) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in the northeast province after the ceasefire agreement came
into operation. Instead the government is strengthening its security camps and establishing new camps in the northeast province. In my district two
new camps have been established at Nilaveli and Pallathodam. Some security
camps housed in schools have been relocated in the same area," said Mr.
Thurairatnasingham in reply to allegations by opposition parliamentarians
that after the ceasefire agreement security camps have been closed down in
the northeast province.